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Highlights of Southern Africa

30 days, Cape Town to Cape Town

When you put the word “highlights” in the name of a trip, you better be confident that it lives up to the hype. This trip does. Across 30 epic days, you’ll go round-trip to Cape Town via Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia — a new spin on one of our most popular routes — taking comfortable touring vehicles as well as staying in a mix of hotels and campsites for a well-rounded experience. Wildlife sightings and cultural moments come standard here — everything from searching for the "big five" in national parks to enjoying meals with local families. You’ve got memories made for a lifetime.

30 days

Cape Town to Cape Town

From$8199USD
Valid on Dec 16 2024
Trip Code: DSCC

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

When you put the word “highlights” in the name of a trip, you better be confident that it lives up to the hype. This trip does. Across 30 epic days, you’ll go round-trip to Cape Town via Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia — a new spin on one of our most popular routes — taking comfortable touring vehicles as well as staying in a mix of hotels and campsites for a well-rounded experience. Wildlife sightings and cultural moments come standard here — everything from searching for the "big five" in national parks to enjoying meals with local families. You’ve got memories made for a lifetime.

Is this tour for me?

Travel Style: Classic

All of the highlights, culture, access, and I-can’t-believe-we-did-that moments, all at a great price.

Service Level: Standard

Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport.

Physical Rating: 2 - Light

Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.

Trip Type: Small Group

Small group experience; Max 18, avg 14

Age requirement: 12+

All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Check Your Visa Requirements

Before booking, use our handy entry requirements tool so you know which documents you need to enter and travel through the countries on your trip.

View our Entry Requirements tool

30 days

Cape Town to Cape Town

From$8199USD
Valid on Dec 16 2024
Trip Code: DSCC

Need a flight? We can help.

Call us to book your flights! We'll find you the best option!

See how your trip uplifts communities

In a number of impactful ways, your adventure directly benefits the local people and places we visit.

Trees for Days

Help us spread love around the world — with trees! Together with Planeterra, we'll plant one tree in your name for every travel day.

Trees planted for this trip: 30

Ripple Score

Want to create ripples that change lives? The higher the Ripple Score percentage, the more money stays in the local communities you visit.

Ripple Score for this trip: 92

Itinerary

Day 1Cape Town

Arrive at any time.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Welcome Moment Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

Day 2Cape Town

Enjoy a full day in Cape Town with the option to visit Table Mountain, choose to explore Cape Point, or embark on a wine tour around Stellenbosch. In the evening, opt to join your group for meal at one of Cape Town's many great restaurants.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 3Cape Town/Johannesburg

Take a short flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg. In the afternoon, travel to Soweto for a bicycle tour and learn more about its important history and significant role in bringing the issues of segregation to the forefront.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 4Johannesburg/Greater Kruger Area

Take the Panorama Route into the Kruger National Park area. In the evening, enjoy a traditional dinner and dance experience.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 5Kruger National Park

Enjoy a full day wildlife safari drive in the Kruger NP. Keep an eye out for Africa's famed "big five".

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 6Greater Kruger Area

Head north to Timbavati Safari Lodge, for a guided nature walk in search of the small 5. Listening, touching and sensing, can open your world to the real secrets of the African Lowveld.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 7Greater Kruger Area/Louis Trichardt

Opt for a morning safari drive, or soak up the atmosphere in the camp, before traveling to the next location, in the Louis Trichardt area. Free afternoon to relax by the pool, opt to walk/hike in the property, or learn about South Africa rich history of the Anglo Boer era.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 8Louis Trichardt/Great Zimbabwe Monument Area

Get an earlier start and cross the border into Zimbabwe. Continue on to the Great Zimbabwe Monument.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 9Great Zimbabwe Monument Area/Matobo National Park

Start the day with a visit to the Great Zimbabwe National Monument, Africa's most significant ruins site south of Cairo. Learn the history of the ruins and climb to the citadel for a view over the site. Continue on to Matobo National Park.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 10Matobo National Park

Wake up early and opt to explore ancient cave paintings, hike the unique and stunning landscape, or hang out by the pool. In the afternoon, enjoy an included nature walk, with the opportunity to get up close and personal with the resident wildlife.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 11Matobo National Park/Hwange National Park

Travel to Hwange National Park for an opportunity to spot more wildlife. Opt to enjoy an evening wildlife safari drive in a safari vehicle.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 12Hwange National Park/Victoria Falls

Continue on to Victoria Falls and enjoy lunch at the G Adventurers–supported Lusumpuko Women's Club. Marvel at the spectacular falls from the Zimbabwean side, then enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore further.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your G for Good Moment Lusumpuko Women's Club Lunch

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 13Victoria Falls

Spend the day exploring your beautiful surroundings. Opt to visit Victoria Falls, go whitewater rafting, or take a helicopter flight over the falls.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 14Victoria Falls/Kasane

Cross the border into Botswana, and stay in Kasane, just outside of Chobe NP. Try to spot the elephants, crocodiles, and hippos this region is famous for during an optional sundowner cruise.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 15Kasane/Nata

Opt to rise early for sunrise and marvel at your surroundings as you set out on a safari drive in Chobe National Park. Travel to Nata and watch for elephants drinking from the camp's watering hole at night.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 16Nata/Maun

Prepare for a 1-night/2-day journey into the delta.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 17Okavango Delta

Enjoy wildlife walks, traditional mokoro excursions, and birding. Learn the ways of the bush from the local polers.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 18Maun/Ghanzi

Hop into a mokoro with your friends on the way back to Maun. Search for wildlife in the reeds along the river as you make your way back towards civilization. Zoom through the western part of Botswana to Ghanzi; the heart of the Kalahari. Catch a glimpse of how the Indigenous San Bushmen adapted to the Kalahari Desert on a bushman walk. They will teach you about wilderness survival skills in a place that seems uninhabitable.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 19Ghanzi/Windhoek

Travel to Windhoek, the German-influenced capital city of Namibia.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 20Windhoek/Etosha National Park

Visit the G Adventures supported Penduka Village Restaurant & Shop, just outside of Windhoek, to pick up a tasty packed lunch, then continue up to Etosha National Park. Enjoy an afternoon wildlife safari drive in our touring vehicle, then opt to explore more on an open vehicle night drive.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your G for Good Moment Penduka Village Restaurant & Shop

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 21Etosha National Park

Enjoy another wildlife safari drive in our touring vehicle and keep your eyes peeled for some of the famous wildlife.

Day 22Etosha National Park/Swakopmund

Sit back and watch the stunning desert landscape go by enroute to western Namibia.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 23Swakopmund

Spend a day exploring all the area has to offer. Optional activities include sandboarding, skydiving, and a township tour.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your Discover Moment

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 24Swakopmund/Namib Desert

Travel into the beautiful Namib Desert, stopping at Walvis Bay on the way.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 25Namib Desert

Visit Sossusvlei Dunes and Sesriem Canyon, and climb the towering Dune 45. Opt to visit Deadvlei.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 26Namib Desert/Keetmanshoop

Continue south through the Namib Desert to Keetmanshoop, enjoying dramatic Namibian landscapes along the way. In the afternoon enjoy a visit to the rare Quiver Tree Forest.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 27Keetmanshoop/Orange River

Early start and visit the geological formation: Giant's Playground. Drive South and later in the day visit the breathtaking Fish River Canyon. Then, continue on to the banks of the Orange River with time to swim or just relax. Enjoy the beautiful scenery in this part of the country.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 28Orange River/Lambert's Bay

Cross the border into South Africa and continue down the coast to Lambert's Bay, stopping along the way for an included wine tasting. Then, opt to visit Bird Island or stroll through this charming town.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 29Lambert's Bay/Cape Town

Continue on the last stretch of the trip to lovely Cape Town. Stop at the G Adventures supported !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre along the way, then get ready to explore the vibrant streets of this scenic coastal city.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Your G for Good Moment !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 30Cape Town

Depart at any time.

Meals included:

Breakfast
View full itinerary

What's Included

  • Your G for Good Moment: Lusumpuko Women's Club Lunch, Victoria Falls
  • Your G for Good Moment: Penduka Village Restaurant & Shop, Windhoek
  • Your G for Good Moment: !Khwa ttu San Culture and Education Centre, Yzerfontein
  • Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
  • Your Discover Moment: Victoria Falls
  • Your Discover Moment: Swakopmund
  • Cape Town orientation walk
  • Soweto Township Bicycle Tour
  • Panorama Route drive with entrances
  • Kruger National Park wildlife safari drive in our vehicle (full-day)
  • Traditional dance experience
  • Nature walk at Timbavati Safari Lodge
  • Great Zimbabwe National Monument visit
  • Nature walk (Matobo National Park)
  • Victoria Falls visit
  • Okavango Delta excursion with entrances, wildlife walks, and traditional canoe trips
  • San/Bushmen walk
  • Traditional dinner (Kalahari)
  • Etosha National Park entrance with wildlife safari drives in our vehicle
  • Sossusvlei Dunes and Sesriem Canyon entrance
  • Wine tasting in Lambert's Bay
  • Fish River Canyon entrance
  • Internal flight
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodations

Hotels (11 nts), lodge/chalet (12 nts), guesthouse (1 nt), basic camping (1 nt), participation camping (4 nts).

Meals

28 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 9 dinners
Allow USD545-710 for meals not included.

Transportation

Plane, air-conditioned touring vehicle, safari vehicles, mokoro, walking.

Staff & experts

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) & driver throughout, local guides.

Available extras (Add these to your tour when you book)

Chobe National Park Safari Drive - From $52.00

Immerse yourself in Chobe National Park in an open-backed, open-seated safari vehicle, and experience the stunning wilderness of the game-rich park in the care of a very knowledgeable and friendly guide. Explore with your eyes as the tour drives along routes that overlook the beautiful Chobe River and keep an eye out for the remarkable variety of animals that are drawn to this permanent water source. During the safari drives it is not uncommon to spot several of Africa’s “big five” in the greater Chobe area and the early morning drive lasting 3 hours is a wonderful opportunity to have some unique sightings.

Chobe River Sunset Cruise - From $55.00

Get a fantastic perspective of one of Botswana's national parks and its thousands of resident elephants, crocodiles, and hippos on a sunset boat cruise on the Chobe River. Bring a few drinks and a camera, sit back, and enjoy the view.

Kruger National Park Full Day Wildlife Safari Drive - From $85.00

Kruger National Park has been dubbed the most famous safari destination in the world. Whenever it is mentioned images of African wildlife and wilderness immediately spring to mind. The vastness of this park is what sets it apart. The breath-taking area with expansive and varied nature makes it a wonderful place to view the African “Big Five”. Hop in a 4x4 safari vehicle and get yourself one step closer to the surrounding nature. Be ready to spot elephants, giraffes, hippos, lions, zebras, and many other species in this impressive South African national park.

South African Wine Tour and Tasting - From $76.00

Take a day trip into the wine lands of South Africa with an expert guide. Visit iconic estates and lesser-visited farms only known to locals in the Stellenbosch area. Indulge in tastings and pairings with cheeses, chocolate, and local delicacies such as Biltong (salted meat). Walk through vineyards and cellars for an all encompassing look at wine production, and learn about the history of this region. Gesondheid! PLEASE NOTE that if this activity is listed on the first or last day of the itinerary you will need to book a pre-night or post-night with a sales representative as the wine tour begins at 8 am.

Victoria Falls Helicopter Ride - 12-13min - From $172.00

You don't want to miss the opportunity to see Victoria Falls from above. Watch the Zambezi River make its way toward the gorge and form the largest waterfall in the world. During your 15-minute ride, you will have time to take in the incredible views over the falls, Livingstone Island, and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park while snapping as many pictures as you like. You may be lucky enough to see some giraffes and elephants in the surrounding landscape and even catch a rainbow over the falls. Includes pick-up and drop-off from hotel and a 12-15min flight. Please note there is a cost for an additional park fee paid for on-site at time of the activity.

Victoria Falls Helicopter Ride - 25min - From $347.00

You don't want to miss the opportunity to see Victoria Falls from above. Watch the Zambezi River make its way toward the gorge and form the largest waterfall in the world. During your 25 minute ride, you will have time to take in the incredible views over the falls, Livingstone Island, and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park while snapping as many pictures as you like. This extended ride also includes time flying over the vast and towering walls of the Batoka Gorge. You may be lucky enough to see some giraffes and elephants in the surrounding landscape and even catch a rainbow over the falls. Includes pick-up and drop-off from hotel and a 25min flight. Please note there is a cost for an additional park fee paid for on-site at time of the activity.

Victoria Falls Whitewater Rafting - From $136.00

Take the opportunity to go whitewater rafting on the Zambezi River while Victoria Falls roars above. Depart in the morning and navigate through the canyon that forms the famous falls. The dramatic rapids will fill you with excitement and complete your experience. Includes a full-day of rafting on class III-V rapids, transfers, and lunch. Please note: River conditions and activity pricing vary depending on the seasons. High water season is from about February to July. Low water season generally runs from August to January each year - this is when the Zambezi is at its very wildest. The "closed season" is dependent on the season’s rains, and usually is from March to April; during this time rafting on the river is not permitted. Additionally, this activity requires passengers to hike down and up the Batoka Gorge (approx. 45 minutes each way) to access the river; an average level of fitness is required. This activity price excludes a $10 park entrance fee.

Zambezi River Sunset Cruise - From $73.00

Climb aboard and cruise along the beautiful Zambezi River. Enjoy some snacks, drinks, a festive atmosphere, and gorgeous views of the sunset. It's the ideal way to end an eventful day in Victoria Falls. Please note that National Park Fees are included at 10 USD per person.

My Own Room - From $1299.00

If you're travelling solo and would prefer to have your own private room throughout your trip, select this option during the online booking process.

Make it a private tour

Book this tour as a private departure, with your own CEO and all the benefits of a G Adventures group tour.

Highlights of Southern Africa

| 30 days - Cape Town to Cape Town - from $8199 USD